Ryder Block overcomes adversity, demonstrates resilience in strong start this season

IOWA CITY – Ryder Block could rely on his dad throughout his wrestling career.

Jurgen Block was an assistant throughout Ryder’s high school career at Waverly-Shell Rock, guiding him at practice and being readily available to talk at home about the trials and tribulations of the sport.

The elder Block was always equipped with a motivational quote to handle anything life or wrestling presented.

So, when his dad faced one of his biggest challenges, Ryder executed a reversal and was there with an uplifting message before triple-bypass heart surgery last month.

“That was something that was interesting,” the younger Block said. “When he was getting ready for surgery, I thought I would send him a motivational quote and he would tell me it’s time to practice what he’s preached all his life.”

The lessons of resilience, strength and guts, especially when times are toughest, have resonated with Ryder and have become a driving force in his emergence as fourth-ranked University of Iowa’s 149-pound starter. He is 6-1 with three victories over three ranked foes, climbing to seventh in Flowrestling’s national rankings.

Block received a shock before he even stepped on the mat this season. Jurgen suffered a heart attack after Iowa’s season-opening dual against Bellarmine, having the procedure in early November.

“Obviously, it's something scary. You never think that's going to happen, and then something like that happens, and you’ve got to figure it out. But I think when you’ve got a strong family, like my family, everybody comes together. And then everybody here has helped me too. So, I think it makes it a lot easier for me to be able to just know that he's doing good, and then I can go and compete hard and know he's back home watching.”

Block was determined to be there for the man that always had his back through the good and not-so good. He spent time with his dad in the hospital before traveling to the National Duals Invitational.

“It was weird but you can’t flinch,” Block said. “You have to be ‘This is what it is.’ You have to make the most of your situations.

“It was weird because he’s always been there. Even last year when it was hard because I got hurt, he was always telling me it was going to be all right. You’re going to get back. So, it was interesting but I think you’ve got to be strong those people. It was good.”

At the National Duals, Block opened by doubling his college win total in the first day. He defeated Missouri’s No. 6 Josh Edmond and Oklahoma State’s No. 3 Casey Swiderski in his first two bouts. His lone loss came on Day 2, dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision to Ohio State’s No. 5 Ethan Stiles.

“Something I was thinking about is if my dad can go lay on a table and get a triple bypass for six or seven hours, then I can definitely wrestle hard for seven minutes and then more if I need it,” Ryder said. “So, I think that that was something I could use to wrestle hard (that) weekend.”

Jurgen was released from the hospital during the National Duals. He listened on the radio or received update from Block’s mom, Sarah.

“He’s good,” Block said. “He’s at home. I think he’s recovering well. I try to call him as much as I can but he’s doing good.”

The Hawkeyes have provided support and Block has demonstrated resolve.

“He spent some time up there with his family, and you know, the Iowa Hawkeye family is with him,” Iowa Coach Tom Brands said. “The prayers are there and the thoughts and the energy go back at him. But he's handled all that well, and he wants to be on the mat competing.”

Something he wasn’t able to do much before this season. Block has faced lots of adversity before this season. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear before Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D., as a senior at WSR.

Freshman season was done before it started and focus switched to rehabilitation, improving by getting stronger.

Sophomore season began with renewed optimism, wrestling at 141. He wrestled six matches and misfortune struck a second time. He said he felt his ACL pop and realized what happened immediately. Block talked to staff and had to get it fixed again.

“There was a while I was pretty down about it because it kind of sucks,” Block said. “I know how long it is and how boring it is. We’re just going to get back in the saddle and get back on rehab. Make sure it doesn’t happen again and get stronger and bigger.”

Block attacked rehab again. The first time including lots of biking and stretching but once he literally hit the ground running when he rebuilt his leg muscles and regained strength.

“I probably ran a long loop, which is like 3 1/2 miles every day for three months straight,” Block said. “It was basically just getting stronger and getting condition, getting in good shape, and then rehab exercises are boring stuff, like squats and stretching.”

Block overcame the mental challenges of recurring injuries and recovery. He didn’t lose confidence that he would return to the mat. Block said he knew he was good at wrestling and wouldn’t forget his skill. He confided in Brands and teammates like Drake Ayala about getting back into a groove. The key was being determined and placing his nose directly on the grindstone.

“He handled it like a man should handle it, like a high-level athlete should handle it,” Brands said. “The other thing is he was the guy at 141 and then he wasn’t. That can be some anguish.

“This sport means a lot to him. It means a lot to his family. So, when that happens you can go one direction or the other. I don’t think you stay static. Good for him for taking this opportunity and making the most of it.”

The heavier weight class has been a positive, so far. At 5-foot-11, he has a long frame still good for leverage at 149. It also relieved the stress of monitoring his weight. Making 141 led to him obsessing about weight, checking it about 20 times a day, his nutritional intake and nightly calculations to figure out how much he had to work out the next day to burn off calories consumed.

“I think more of it is growing up,” Block said. “Making sure I’m taking care of everything with my body. Eating to win rather than eating to feel full and cutting the weight.

“It’s been good. It’s something less to worry about. I’m less stressed out about making the weight all the time, so I can relax.”

Questions surrounded 149 to begin the season. Block was one of a few Hawkeyes listed as possible starters. He has made the most of his opportunities and asserted himself as the top guy.

“I love watching him wrestle,” Iowa 125-pounder Dean Peterson said of Block. “He’s just tough. He wrestles in all positions super tough. He’s been giving top guys a lot of fits. Coming in, I wasn’t really sure who would be in that middle part of the lineup but seeing him in there, he’s doing a great job.”

Block also posted a notable win in the Iowa State dual, beating All-American Paniro Johnson, 2-1, in tiebreaker-1. He remains level-headed about those ranked victories, noting if he loses then he’s the upset victim.

“It’s November,” Block said about the Johnson match. “You’ve got to win in March when it counts. It’s good to look back on but I have to keep building and get better for much.”

The first half of the season closed with a technical fall and pin against University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and Utah Valley. The next step for Block is to score more points and not just rely on his defense and mat wrestling to eke out wins.

“I’ve got to get takedowns,” Block said. “I can’t expect to win every overtime match. It’s gone that way so far (but) in overtime you slip on a banana peel, like everybody always says, then you’re taken down and it’s over.

“Just score more points. Trust my offense and keep shooting. Put the effort out there. Pace high.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com